Mercian Birding

Thursday, 10 May 2018

10th May

RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - Grey Plover in summer plumage, Bar-Tailed Godwit (RSPB), Dunlin, Common Sandpiper, 2 Ringed Plover & 2 Little Ringed Plover (S Atkinson) [all Jubilee Wetlands], Egyptian Goose & Cuckoo [Dosthill NR] (C Workman), Mediterranean Gull [Fishers Mill]. Grey Plover and Bar-Tailed Godwit still present late evening plus Barn Owl (T Perrins).
KWP Cliff Pool - 4 Ringed Plover per log book

Wednesday, 9 May 2018

9th May

RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - Grey Plover in summer plumage [back on North Pit], 10 Ringed Plover, 2+ Little Ringed Plover, 2 Dunlin, Yellow Wagtail, 3 Cuckoo & Common Sandpiper [Jubilee Wetlands] (J Sirrett), 2 Mediterranean Gull (M Scott). Grey Plover still present 6pm (R Walker).
RSPB Middleton (Warks) - 3 Goosander on the river - Where were you Saturday?
Dosthill Lake (Waterski Pools) - 50+ Swift, Male Pochard and 2 Common Tern (M Scott).
KWP Cliff Pool - 4 Ringed Plover per log book

Tuesday, 8 May 2018

8th May

Birchmoor - 2 Wheatear in flooded field (J Morgan).
RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - Grey Plover in summer plumage (G A Williams & P Andrews), Ringed Plover, 2 Little Ringed Plover [All Jubilee Wetlands] & Mediterranean Gull [Fishers Mill] (S Atkinson).

Monday, 7 May 2018

7th April

Birchmoor - 2 Avocet in flooded field before flying North West (R Smith).
RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - Grey Plover in summer plumage [North Pit] (@BirderAlrewas). imm Little Gull (G Williams).

Sunday, 6 May 2018

6th May

RSPB Middleton (Warks) - Marsh Tit [Fishers Mill/Mill Plantation] (D Hutton).
RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - Osprey [Dosthill NR at 7.40am] (C Lee & M Royston).
Wishaw Blindpit Lane - Golden Plover (G A Williams).

Saturday, 5 May 2018

5th May

RSPB MIDDLETON ALL DAYER
TOTAL = 95 (updated 20:00)
Green - Seen
Red - Not Seen

1 Arctic Tern

2 Avocet

3 Barn Owl

4 Barnacle Goose

5 Bar-tailed Godwit

6 Black Tern

7 Blackbird

8 Blackcap

9 Black-headed Gull

10 Black-tailed Godwit

11 Blue Tit

12 Bullfinch

13 Buzzard

14 Canada Goose

15 Carrion Crow

16 Cetti's Warbler

17 Chaffinch

18 Chiffchaff

19 Coal Tit

20 Collared Dove

21 Common Gull

22 Common Sandpiper

23 Common Tern

24 Coot

25 Cormorant

26 Corn Bunting

27 Cuckoo

28 Curlew

29 Dunlin

30 Dunnock

31 Egyptian Goose

32 Feral Pigeon

33 Fieldfare

34 Gadwall

35 Garden Warbler

36 Garganey

37 Goldcrest

38 Goldfinch

39 Goosander

40 Grasshopper Warbler

41 Great Black-backed Gull

42 Great Crested Grebe

43 Great Spotted Woodpecker

44 Great Tit

45 Great White Egret

46 Green Sandpiper

47 Green Woodpecker

48 Greenfinch

49 Greenshank

50 Grey Heron

51 Grey Plover

52 Grey Wagtail

53 Greylag Goose

54 Herring Gull

55 Hobby

56 House Martin

57 House Sparrow

58 Jack Snipe

59 Jackdaw

60 Jay

61 Kestrel

62 Kingfisher

63 Lapwing

64 Lesser Black-backed Gull

65 Lesser Redpoll

66 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker

67 Lesser Whitethroat

68 Linnet

69 Little Egret

70 Little Grebe

71 Little Gull

72 Little Owl

73 Little Ringed Plover

74 Long-tailed Tit

75 Magpie

76 Mallard

77 Marsh Harrier

78 Meadow Pipit

79 Mediterranean Gull

80 Mistle Thrush

81 Moorhen

82 Mute Swan

83 Nightingale

84 Nuthatch

85 Osprey

86 Oystercatcher

87 Peregrine

88 Pheasant

89 Pied Wagtail

90 Pintail

91 Pochard

92 Raven

93 Red Kite

94 Red-legged Partridge

95 Redshank

96 Redstart

97 Redwing

98 Reed Bunting

99 Reed Warbler

100 Ringed Plover

101 Robin

102 Rook

103 Roseate Tern

104 Ruddy Duck

105 Ruff

106 Sand Martin

107 Sanderling

108 Sedge Warbler

109 Shelduck

110 Short-eared Owl

111 Shoveler

112 Siskin

113 Skylark

114 Snipe

115 Song Thrush

116 Sparrowhawk

117 Spotted Flycatcher

118 Starling

119 Stock Dove

120 Swallow

121 Swift

122 Tawny Owl

123 Teal

124 Tree Sparrow

125 Treecreeper

126 Tufted Duck

127 Turnstone

128 Turtle Dove

129 Water Rail

130 Wheatear

131 Whimbrel

132 Whinchat

133 Whitethroat

134 Wigeon

135 Willow Tit

136 Willow Warbler

137 Wood Pigeon

138 Wood Sandpiper

139 Wood Warbler

140 Wren

141 Yellow Wagtail

142 Yellowhammer

Friday, 4 May 2018

4th May

Birchmoor - Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper & 3 Little Ringed Plover in flooded field (R Smith).
RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - Mediterranean Gull (2nd Year) [Fishers Mill] (P Forbes). 3+ Red Kite, 6 Buzzard & 2 Hobby (T Perrins).
Shustoke Res - Little Ringed Plover (J Kenny).
Wishaw - Wheatear near rusty roller (C Hiles).

Thursday, 3 May 2018

3rd May

RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - 3 (2m&f) Wheatear, Whinchat [2 benches North Pit], Cuckoo, Mediterranean Gull [looks like new bird - black in primaries] (C Workman), 2 Dunlin, Goosander (S Atkinson), Hobby (T Hyde), Peregrine (@6NAM8), 2 Yellow Wagtail late evening.
Birchmoor - 3 Little Ringed Plover in flooded field (R Smith).

Wednesday, 2 May 2018

2nd May

Birchmoor - Ringed Plover & 5 Little Ringed Plover in flooded field (R Smith).
RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - 2 Wood Sandpiper & Dunlin [West Scrape from screen] (S Pick). 2 Whinchat (S Cawthray), 3 Wheatear [All 5 West Side of JW], 7 Avocet none of which were the French ringed bird, 4 Dunlin (S Atkinson), 2 Dunlin [Jubilee Wetlands], Red Kite [over North Pit], Cuckoo [Dosthill NR] (G Busby) - No sign of Wood Sandpipers this afternoon.
KWP South - 8 Arctic Terns [Bodymoor Heath Water], 2 Common Sandpiper & c.300 Hirundines [Hemlingford Water] (S Cawthray). At least 3 Arctic with 18 Common at 6.30pm (C Doyle).
Wishaw - 3 Wheatear & 2 Yellow Wagtail (C Hiles).
Junction 9 M42 Dunton Island - Marsh Harrier (f) over KSD Aggregates 6.45pm (C Doyle).
Shustoke Res - Common Sandpiper (R Walker).
Alvecote - Common Sandpipe & Garden Warbler (M Scott).
Tamworth Wilnecote - 2 Red Kite over A5 Morrisons roundabout (E Pick)

Wood Sandpiper - RSPB Middleton

Tuesday, 1 May 2018

1st May

Birchmoor - Ringed Plover & 5 Little Ringed Plover in flooded field (R Smith).
RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - Dunlin, Ruff, Wheatear (f), Common Sandpiper, 50 Swift (RSPB), 2 Hobby (B Duckhouse), Whinchat (R Going), 2 Egyptian Geese, Cuckoo [Jubilee Wetlands], 2 Yellow Wagtail [North Pit] (M Scott).
Wishaw - 2 Wheatear [Blindpit Lane] (D Baker), 4 Wheatear [Lower Wishaw Lane] (S Cawthray).
Alvecote - Little Ring Plover [Pretty Pigs Pools], Common Sandpiper & Garganey [Mill Pool] (R Smith).

News

27/02/2020 - RSPB Middleton 2020 Year list up to date - Anyone seen Grey Wag, Feral Pigeon, Skylark, Siskin or Chiffchaff.

14/09/18 - The RSPB Middleton total now stands at 165 although there is some debate around Siberian Chiffchaff being removed. Also beneath the list are the totals from the 19 reserves that took part in the 2018 West Midlands All-day Birdrace. A big thanks to Phil Andrews for organising and collating the scores and thanks to everyone who took part.

08/05/2018 - Thanks to everyone who took part in the West Midlands all day bird race both at RSPB Middleton and the other 15 reserves across the region. The final totals are as follows curtesy of Phil Andrews. Marsh Harrier was added to the Middleton list during the race and Marsh Tit the day after taking the yearly total to 151.

Middleton Lakes 95
Ladywalk 93
Sandwell 84
Belvide 83
Marsh Lane 81
Chasewater 79
Upton Warren 78
Salford Priors 76
Grimley 76
Whitemoor Haye 70
Morton Bagot 68
Earlswood 64
Sutton Park 58
Evesham 57
Saxon Mill 55
Trittiford 42

01/05/2018 - The end of April Middleton yearly total finished at 147. Lets hope we add a few more from this Saturday's bird race - Perhaps Whinchat, Sanderling or even Purple Sandpiper.

16/04/2018 - Middleton total rapidly moves onto 131 with the spring arrivals and Greenshank this morning. On the Warbler front we are now just waiting for Whitethroat and Garden Warbler unless something exotic drops in.

04/04/2018 - At the end of March the RSPB Middleton yearly total reached 115 and already Yellow Wagtail and Blackcap have been added this month. Willow will be next, possibly tomorrow, followed by the other 6 Warblers shortly after. Keep a look out for passage Osprey although the Black-Headed Gulls will alert you to their presence unless like today they are mobbing a fly by Bittern instead.

26/03/2018 - As the end of the month approaches the yearly total stands at 114 with Siberian Chiffchaff from yesterday. We've therefore only added 8 in March but still the possibility of Garganey, Swallow and Blackcap in the next 5 days.

04/03/2018 - The yearly total reached 106 by the end of Feb and already 2 more have been added - Green Sandpiper on the 1st and Dunlin yesterday. Next it will be Sand Martins which were already here this time last year. I expect we will get one by the end of the week.

03/02/2018 - Tawny Owl & Jack Snipe were both seen last week so monthly and yearly total is 102 and not 100 as I previously reported. Full list below.

26/01/2018 - The yearly total moves onto 99 with Ringed Plover. Will we hit 100 before the end of the month.

21/01/2018 - Competition Time. I’m trying to accelerate the onset of spring with this competition after that miserable weekend. Nothing difficult just predict the date of the first returning Avocet to RSPB Middleton. No prize just bragging rights and you can be Nostradamus for the day. In chronological order Avocets have turned up over the last 4 years on 30th March, 26th March, 6th March and again last Year on the 6th March. In contrast the Avocets at Upton Warren are now into their 15th breeding year and over this period have progressively arrived earlier. Back in 2003 it was the 17th March but last year it was the 18th of February with an earlier date of 10th recorded in 2016. Using the information above plus your skill and judgement please select your predicted date and I’ll put your name against it in the competition box under the year list below. I’m not sure how many people will enter, probably just me, but I’ve split each day up into am & pm so please state this with your selected date. First come first served and if your slot is taken I’ll move you into the nearest available. You can also have dates outside those already shown. Email or DM me at the links above.

16/01/2018 - Patchwork Challenge 2018 year lists went live today. Check out the league tables particularly the Midlands here - http://www.patchworkchallenge.com/

A few familiar names in there including Claire (Dickens Heath), John (Upton Warren) and of course the current leader Katie Thorpe the RSPB Middleton Warden. I've been in and raided her list and added 6 to the Middleton year total below.

12/01/2018 – The Middleton year list below has been put on this blog as a bit of fun and to encourage more sightings, especially some of the commoner species that get overlooked. It is not the official RSPB list for the reserve, if one actually exists and nor is it used for any other recording or reporting purposes. As far as I’m aware the sightings on this blog are accurate but rely on people’s honesty and experience. Last night the “fun” stopped when it appears I was accused publically, via Twitter, of cheating with the list below but also the tweet referenced the biannual Bird Race. If I get any more grief about what to include on the year list then I’ll remove it. We are also now looking for an honest person to collate the Bird Race scores this spring if anyone is interested.

07/01/2018 - By popular demand (well 2 people) the Middleton year list below is now in alphabetical order. This should help identify some of the common species that are still missing. Of note is Linnet, Mistle Thrush and Cetti's Warbler. I've heard the latter all round the reserve but would prefer an actual sighting.

01/01/2018 - The RSPB Middleton 2017 year list finished at 163 (compiled by Geoff Williams). I've added a scrollable 2018 list underneath the Twitter feed below. Hopefully this will encourage more people to report their sightings. I appreciate that some of you don't submit due to fear of ridicule so if you wish to remain anonymous then let me know in the email or DM and your wishes will be respected. Thanks for everyone's input who's contributed over the last 3 months and here's to a Mega 2018 in the valley. I also must thank Tom Perrins for his excellent work over the last 9 years with TVB and his continued support. Happy New Year.

29/12/17 - With Starling numbers at Belvide now c.40,000 then I was hoping for some recent increase at Middleton but unfortunately it's been stagnant at around just 250 birds for several weeks now.

21/12/17 - If like me you've not yet connected with a Hawfinch from the recent influx, then Berkswell (CV7 7BJ) seems to be the best local place. 6 Birds present today.

21/11/17 - Tree Sparrow reported at RSPB Middleton again today via BirdTrack - can anyone confirm?

17/11/17 - Still 9 Little Egret in the riverside roost tonight with 2 Great White Egrets. That makes approx 65 LE's on the reserve.

12/11/17 - Of the 18 Little Egret on the reserve tonight only 9 roosted riverside, the rest headed towards the Heronry. Not be long before they are all in the Heronry.

08/11/17 - On my last 2 visits to RSPB Middleton I've been returning to the Waterski centre car park and noticed someone illuminating Southern Meadow with a powerful torch/lamp from a position on the flood bank footpath. If this is you then please refrain from this activity. I assume you are looking for Owls and not something more dubious - all you will do is disrupt their hunting and drive them out the area.

07/11/17 - There does not appear to be a Little Egret roost on Hemlingford Water KWP so possibly just a pre/post roost gathering. The 20 or so birds there tonight left in small groups just before dusk heading North West in the general direction of the Heronry at Middleton. The KWP record stands at 43 on Otter Pool 20/10/15 so 5 more needed Tony H.

04/11/17 - Arrived in SKAN hide KWP late afternoon over looking a very busy Cliff Pool. Picked out Goldeneye and 2 Goosander and then started counting the numerous Little Egret. Got as far as 12 and for the second successive Saturday shooting started on the adjacent Tame Lagoon. This completely cleared Cliff & Otter Pool with not a single bird remaining. 2 GWE were also flushed from Otter Pool and headed North. I assume they are shooting ducks due to the sporadic firing. Pointless having a nature reserve here now as just providing cannon fodder for them. WCC have also just spent a lot of time, effort and money on Cliff Pool for little return if this is to continue. Final bit of moaning - the Otter Pool Cormorant roost is no more as a result with ZERO birds tonight.

31/10/17 - Great White Egret was reluctant to roost on Otter Pool tonight and waited on the "S" Cliff Pool until well after dark. Something has happened in the park as only 2 Cormorants roosted compared to the usual 60+. There was shooting on the adjacent Tame Lagoon at the weekend so could be a result of that.

23/10/17 - A few links have been added below, one being the Birdforum RSPB Middleton thread. If you've not used it before then the link will take you to page 1. Use the tab near the top of that page to take you to "Last>>" which are the most recent posts. If you run a local blog and would like a link adding then please let me know.

Starlings Murmurated for about 3/4 of an hour tonight and forced into contorted shapes by 2 Sparrowhawks.

22/10/17 - Little Egret roost number much lower than last week with some now heading to the Heronry instead. The Riverside roost is very exposed and last night's wind was probably too much for some of them. Starling numbers continue to increase but no real murmuration with birds gathering in trees to the West of the canal and then virtually going straight into the reeds in several groups. Will try for a proper count tomorrow.

15/10/17 - Starlings are again roosting on Fishers Mill. Numbers increasing rapidly from 200 on the 10th to 1034 tonight. Let's hope it doesn't fizzle out like last year.

14/10/17 - RSPB Middleton yearly total now stands at 159 with today's Hawfinch. Thanks to Geoff Williams for keeping count.

07/10/17 - Kingsbury Water Park Cliff Pool undergoing a bit of rejuvenation at the moment. One island and West side water edge has had vegetation removed and surface scraped. Plenty of mud - bring on the waders. Just single Common Sandpiper currently.

RSPB Middleton 2020 Year List

158. Arctic Tern
157. Avocet (M Smiles)
156. Barn Owl
155. Barnacle Goose
154. Bar-tailed Godwit
153. Bittern (D Corfield)
152. Blackbird
151. Blackcap
150. Black-headed Gull
149. Black-tailed Godwit (D Corfield)
148. Blue Tit
147. Brambling
146. Broad-billed Sandpiper
145. Bullfinch
144. Buzzard
143. Canada Goose
142. Carrion Crow
141. Cattle Egret
140. Cetti's Warbler
139. Chaffinch
138. Chiffchaff
137. Coal Tit
136. Collared Dove (S Atkinson)
135. Common Gull
134. Common Sandpiper
133. Common Tern
132. Coot
131. Cormorant
130. Cuckoo
129. Curlew (M Smiles/D Corfield)
128. Dunlin
127. Dunnock
126. Egyptian Goose
125. Feral Pigeon
124. Fieldfare
123. Gadwall
122. Garden Warbler
121. Garganey
120. Glossy Ibis (M Smiles)
119. Goldcrest
118. Golden Plover (J Owen)
117. Goldeneye
116. Goldfinch
115. Goosander
114. Grasshopper Warbler
113. Great Black-Backed Gull
112. Great Crested Grebe
111. Great Spotted Woodpecker
110. Great Tit
109. Great White Egret
108. Green Sandpiper
107. Green Woodpecker
106. Greenfinch (S Atkinson)
105. Greenshank
104. Green-winged Teal
103. Grey Heron
102. Red-necked Phalarope (RSPB)
101. Grey Plover
100. Grey Wagtail (B Valentine)
99. Greylag Goose
98. Hawfinch (RSPB)
97. Hen Harrier (S Atkinson)
96. Herring Gull
95. Hobby
94. House Martin
93. House Sparrow
92. Jack Snipe (RSPB)
91. Jackdaw
90. Jay (S Atkinson)
89. Kestrel
88. Kingfisher (S Atkinson)
87. Kittiwake (M Smiles)
86. Knot
85. Lapwing
84. Lesser Black-backed Gull
83. Lesser Redpoll (D Corfield)
82. Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (D Corfield))
81. Lesser Whitethroat
80. Linnet
79. Little Egret
78. Little Grebe
77. Little Ringed Plover
76. Little Tern (M Smiles)
75. Long-tailed Tit
74. Magpie
73. Mallard
72. Mandarin (M Smiles)
71. Marsh Harrier
70. Marsh Tit (D Corfield)
69. Meadow Pipit (S Atkinson)
68. Mediterranean Gull (S Atkinson)
67. Merlin (G A Williams)
66. Mistle Thrush (S Atkinson)
65. Moorhen
64. Mute Swan
63. Nuthatch
62. Oystercatcher (R Walker)
61. Pallid Harrier (M Smiles)
60. Peregrine (R Walker)
59. Pheasant
58. Pied Wagtail
57. Pink-footed Goose (M Smiles)
56. Pintail
55. Pochard
54. Raven (S Atkinson)
53. Red Kite (D Corfield)
52. Red-breasted Merganser (M Smiles)
51. Redshank (M Smiles , M Scott)
50. Redwing (S Atkinson)
49. Reed Bunting
48. Reed Warbler
47. Ring Ouzel
46. Ringed Plover (G A Williams)
45. Robin
44. Rook
43. Rose-ringed Parakeet (R Walker)
42. Ruff
41. Sand Martin (D Corfield)
40. Sanderling
39. Sedge Warbler
38. Shelduck
37. Short-eared Owl (M Durkin)
36. Shoveler
35. Siskin (S Cawthray)
34. Skylark (B Valentine)
33. Snipe (S Atkinson)
32. Song Thrush
31. Sparrowhawk
30. Spotted Flycatcher (D Corfield)
29. Spotted Redshank (M Smiles)
28. Starling
27. Stock Dove
26. Stonechat
25. Swallow
24. Swift
23. Tawny Owl (R Walker)
22. Teal
21. Treecreeper
20. Tufted Duck
19. Turnstone
18. Water Rail
17. Wheatear
16. Whimbrel
15. Whinchat
14. White-fronted Goose (S Atkinson)
13. Whitethroat
12. Whooper Swan
11. Wigeon
10. Willow Tit (D Corfield)
9. Willow Warbler
8. Wood Sandpiper
7. Woodcock (RSPB)
6. Woodpigeon
5. Wren
4. Wryneck (M Smiles)
3. Yellow Wagtail
2. Yellowhammer (M Smiles)
1. Yellow-legged Gull (S Cawthray)